Oneida County Tourism names grant winners

UTICA — Twenty area attractions, organizations, and events will benefit from the Tourism Marketing Grant Assistance Program of Oneida County Tourism, which awarded more than $80,000 in grants to help promote tourism in Oneida County.

The grant recipients are: Adirondack Scenic Railroad, $5,625; ATC Endurance/Delta Lake Triathlon, $2,853; Boonville Area Chamber of Commerce, $3,750; Boonville-Oneida County Fair, $4,500; Boonville Snow Festival II, $3,750; Capitol Civic Center, $2,000; Clinton Chamber of Commerce, $4,612; Fish Creek Cabin Resorts, $5,625; Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo, $3,750; Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, $5,400; NYS Woodsmen’s Field Days, Inc., $6,000; Oneida County Public Market, $4,749; Rome Art & Community Center, $3,750; Sylvan Beach Amusement Park, $4,500; Sylvan-Verona Beach Resort Association, $4,500; Tri-City LaCrosse, $1,461; Trout Power, $3,750; Utica Curling Club, $1,500; Utica Zoological Society, $3,750; and the Village of Sylvan Beach, $6,000.

Oneida County Tourism dedicated more than $81,000, or 12 percent of the county’s occupancy tax receipts, to fund the grants, which range from $1,000 to a maximum of $7,500. The program was open to both for profit and nonprofit tourism-related businesses and organizations that needed assistance with marketing activities such as advertising placements, website development, direct mail, travel show expenses, and printing of promotional materials.

The goals of the program are to expand the advertising reach of tourism businesses beyond Oneida County, promote a positive image and increase awareness of Oneida County attractions and events, and increase overnight stays in Oneida County lodging facilities, according to Oneida County Tourism.

Contact DeLore at tgregory@tmvbj.com